TrailDuro introduces a new trail-running format in southern France, featuring races near Nice in the Alpes-Maritimes and Entraunes in the Alpes-de-Haute-Provence. The core concept involves approximately twenty kilometers of running, completed at one's own pace, with specific timed sections. This distinguishes it from a typical trail race: participants can travel at a relaxed pace between sections, then compete intensely when the timed segments occur. The Nice event, scheduled for early November, provides 12 km and 17 km choices, and another listed format is a shorter 12 km course with minimal elevation gain.
The timed sections traverse varied terrain, designed to challenge both leg strength and technical skill, not solely speed. The Entraunes race begins in the village of Entraunes, close to the boundary of Mercantour National Park, and features an 18 km route with 800 meters of elevation gain. The Nice location offers a coastal Alpes-Maritimes environment, with its 12 km option intended for those seeking a rapid performance. In summary, TrailDuro appeals to runners who appreciate trail environments but prefer the day structured into distinct racing segments rather than a single, sustained effort from beginning to end.